For Team USA's Hailey Van Lith, 3x3 basketball at Olympics could bring redemption of sorts

PARIS — Hailey Van Lith swears that despite what outsiders might think, her last 15 months have not, in fact, been a miserable experience.

Yes, it’s true that Van Lith, one of the top guards in women’s college basketball the last few seasons, has had a somewhat of a rollercoaster journey, transferring from Louisville, where she was an All-American, to then defending-champion LSU in spring 2023, where she struggled, some would say significantly. She entered the transfer portal again April 4, and landed at TCU for her final season of eligibility.

But before that, Van Lith will try to silence doubters — and maybe boost her own confidence — by helping the American women defend their 3x3 basketball gold medal. The USA takes on Germany on Tuesday, July 30, in their first game of pool play.

“This is a great opportunity for me to be around pros, to learn from pros,” Van Lith said, “but at the end of the day, my views on myself are never determined by people outside of me. College has been what it’s been for me but at the end of the day, the Olympics and playing for Team USA is the ultimate experience — and if they think I’m worthy to play for the national team, then that says a lot.”

Then again, maybe she doesn’t need anyone’s validation. Still, a gold medal never looks bad as part of a jewelry collection.

Van Lith, 22, was the surprise selection for the women’s 3x3 team, a sport that debuted in Tokyo. She is the only current collegian on the team; the next oldest is 24-year-old Rhyne Howard, the 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

At Louisville for three years, Van Lith was the star of the show, averaging 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a junior, when she earned honorable mention All-American honors. Her production dipped significantly at LSU where she moved to the point guard position full time, averaging 11.6 points and 3.6 assists per game. At TCU next season she’s likely to move back to her more natural off guard position.

Though she might not admit it, these Games could serve as a redemption of sort for Van Lith, who said she never anticipated 3x3 being her basketball calling card.

“I think the first time I played 3x3 I was like 15, so I had no limits on my dreams for myself at that point, I thought I could do anything, I thought I could make the final 5-on-5 team when I was 18,” she recalled, laughing at her naivete. “I definitely always envisioned myself being an Olympian but I don’t think I knew about 3x3 until the middle of high school.”

She took to the game quickly, helping the U.S. 3x3 win gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, the 2019 FIBA U18 World Cup and most recently, the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Cup. (She has two other USAB gold medals from previous international youth tournaments.)

Van Lith is no stranger to big-time basketball, and her parents are often along for the ride. They’re here in Paris, too — “they come in strong,” she joked Saturday — and she said seeing them in the stands when she takes the floor to represent her country is likely to bring on the waterworks.

Team USA has a variety of hurdles to clear when it comes to 3x3. They’re missing Cameron Brink, after the WNBA rookie tore her ACL on June 25 and was ruled out for the rest of 2023. Dearica Hamby, a two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, replaced Brink. Howard has been banged up, and missed 10 games with the Atlanta Dream over June and July. And the most experienced player, former Tennessee Lady Vol Cierra Burdick, hasn’t played in the WNBA since 2021.

“Unlike the men, we’ve only been together for like a week and a half,” Burdick joked — except she wasn’t really kidding. This roster of women has never played together. That’s a stark contrasts to the USA 3x3 men’s team, which has played together since late 2022, and finished in the top three or better at seven major international tournaments.

Burdick, a seasoned 3x3 veteran, wants to help her teammates adjust.

“My job is to make their job as easy as possible,” Burdick said, gesturing to her teammates.

The 3x3 event is unique because no coaching is allowed, which Van Lith thinks can help create sharper athletes who thrive in pressure-packed moments. This experience could certainly go a long way in helping her get back to the Van Lith of old, a trash-talking fan favorite who loved to hit big shots.

“We can’t have a coach, anytime our coach tries to coach we always get caught, so we’re gonna try to avoid that,” she said, laughing. “It’s a great opportunity for us to learn how to think the game ourselves. A lot of times that’s hard, to make decisions and communicate effectively when we’re tired.

“It’s just another way for us to get better as players, and we’ll embrace that challenge.”

Email Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: For Team USA's Hailey Van Lith, 3x3 basketball at Olympics could bring redemption of sorts